Christina Kay Shorter, 48

Helped establish Loop Scout troop

May 05, 2001|By Joan Giangrasse Kates, Special to the Tribune.

Christina Kay Shorter, 48, of Aurora, formerly of Chicago, whose volunteer work with the Girl Scouts of America helped establish the first troop in Chicago's South Loop, died Monday, April 30, in Rush-Copley Medical Center in Aurora, after a four-month fight against cancer.

Born in Skokie, Ms. Shorter spent most of her childhood in Naperville, where she graduated from Naperville High School. In 1971 she earned a bachelor's degree in psychology and archeology from North Central College in Naperville.

For 24 years, Ms. Shorter was employed by the Social Security Administration in Chicago, where she worked as a fraud investigator. As part of her duties, she did research to ascertain eligibility for Social Security benefits, using an automated system that she helped develop.

"Chris was very thorough and methodical as an analyst and investigator," said Tom Zimmer, a manager at the Social Security Administration. "She'd become very proficient using automated methods, which helps speed up the reviewing process that takes so much time. She was considered a national expert in this area."

In 1986 Ms. Shorter became a leader of the first Girl Scout troop established in Chicago's South Loop. A Girl Scout herself until the age of 18, she returned to the organization 16 years ago as a volunteer leader and trainer.

"She was my troop leader and probably the strongest female role model I had at that point in my life," said Kyla Calvert, a former Scout, who is now a junior at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn. "She taught us that as women, we could attain anything we wanted through goals and hard work. She also demonstrated a fearlessness in her approach to life that inspires me to this day."

Ms. Shorter was an avid reader and gardener.

"Chris was an unusual person in that she never did anything halfway," said her husband, Larry Greenberg. "She gave of herself freely and openly, with an appreciation for life that anyone who knew her found extraordinary."

Ms. Shorter is also survived by her mother, Lois Schnizlein; a stepdaughter, Kimberly Greenberg; a stepmother, Rebecca; two sisters, Linda Fletcher and Dianne; six stepbrothers; and two stepsisters.

A memorial service will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday in DuPage Unitarian Church, 4 S. 535 Old Naperville Rd., Naperville.